General Secretary Stanley Noffsinger expressed his deep sorrow today upon hearing the news of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
He will be conveying words of prayer and support from the Church of the Brethren in a letter to leaders in Newtown including the First Selectman of the town and the Superintendent of Newtown Public School District.
The news reached Noffsinger while he and a group of Brethren leaders were in Israel, taking part in a delegation to the Middle East along with a group from the American Baptist Churches (USA).
In a phone call made from Jerusalem, Noffsinger commented on how news of the school shooting has had a profound effect on all in the delegation. The group heard about the shooting after spending an evening at the Wailing Wall praying for peace for all people. They plan to have prayer together with the American Baptist group in the morning. “From the Holy City we send prayers,” Noffsinger said.
The Brethren delegation includes Stan Noffsinger, general secretary, and Debbie Noffsinger; Mary Jo Flory-Steury, associate general secretary, and Mark Flory-Steury; Keith Goering, Mission and Ministry Board; Andy Hamilton, Mission and Ministry Board; Pam Reist, Mission and Ministry Board.